Searched the forum for an OP on this book and surprisingly,did not see one. Finished it last night. All memoirs I've read so far were written by Confederate soldiers. The first memoir I read written by a Union soldier made it all the more interesting for me. Watching the Ken Burns series,where many of us first heard of Elisha Hunt Rhodes,I got the impression that he was a Private for the course of the war. That was not at all the case and I won't ruin it for anyone who hasn't read the book by saying more about that. It was an easy and enjoyable read. Lotta stuff about camp life and life on the march. Although the 2nd R.I. Inf. was in a lotta battles from 1st Bull Run to Appomattox Court House,from Rhodes' description it seems that worst fighting they saw was from The Wilderness to Appomattox.
The phrase "All For The Union" appears several times throughout the book. Some discussion about slavery but not much really and he referred to blacks as "darkies" which I guess was common among white Northerners. He wrote too of going home on leave and it seemed as if in the North the war wasn't even happening. There was bitterness too at the Northern men of military age who would not enlist to fight. In several instances,he wrote too of the wartime consequences for the South for their "folly". As the title says,it is a series of diary entries and excerpts from letters in chronological order from his enlistment until his discharge.
The book is 249 pages of text,with many photos of the men of the 2nd R.I. Inf and a few drawings. I think it took me a coupla weeks reading some every day to finish it. I give it 4 stars.
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Report of Capt. Elisha H. Rhodes, Second Rhode Island Infantry,
of operations September 19.
HDQRS. SECOND RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS,
Winchester, Va., September 27, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to respectfully report that my command moved
with the brigade, fourth battalion in order of march, on the morning of
the 19th instant, and after crossing Opequon Creek formed with the
brigade in rear of the Second Division, Sixth Corps. In the afternoon I
went into action on the left of the Fifth Wisconsin Battalion, but was
soon ordered by the brigade commander to report to Lieut.-Col.
Montague, commanding the Thirty-seventh Regt. Massachusetts
Volunteers, on the extreme right of the division lines. Crossing the open
fields I moved at at a double-quick for a distance of half a mile, and
reported under a heavy fire of musketry and canister from two guns,
which the enemy had posted in a piece of woods about 300 yards in our
front. I formed on the left of the Thirty-seventh [Massachusetts]
Volunteers, and when the order to advance was given I moved forward
with that regiment and continued with them until the action terminated,
when I bivouacked with the brigade in the field.
My officers and men behaved splendidly, and I take great pleasure in
mentioning Second Lieut. Charles W. Gleason, commanding Company B, Sergt.
Maj. David Small, Corpl. Thomas Parker (wounded), and Private William J.
Babcock, Company B, as particularly distinguishing themselves by their
gallant conduct.
Although engaged during the entire action, my losses were very few. I
have already forwarded a list of casualties.*
I am, sire, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. RHODES,
Capt., Comdg. Battalion Second Rhode Island Volunteers.
Capt. J. W. LATTA,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., First Div., Sixth Corps.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. LV.] THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN. PAGE 190-90
[Series I. Vol. 43. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 90.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Elisha H. Rhodes, Second Rhode Island Infantry.
HDQRS. SECOND RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS,
April 15, 1865
CAPT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by my command in the late operations:
On the morning of the 2d of April my regiment was formed in the
second line, of the brigade, in rear of the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers,
ready for the assault. When the line advanced I became separated from
the main line (which swung either to the right or left), but pushed
forward and crossed two lines of abatis in front of a battery of one gun.
We soon reached the works and mounted the parapet, driving the enemy
from the line through their company streets. First Lieut. and Actg.
Adjt. Frank S. Halliday here stormed a battery of two guns, at the head
of a small party, and turned the guns upon the enemy. As soon as my
line was formed I changed direction to the left, and moved forward for
about half a mile, crossing the plank road, and formed in line of battle,
and awaited orders. I was then ordered to report, by the brigade
commander, back to the works, which I did. In the subsequent
movements of the brigade my regiment was not detached, but
participated in them all. My loss this day was, 1 officer wounded, 2
men killed, and 9 men wounded. I claim that my colors were the first
to be planted on that part of the line, and were placed on the parapet
while the enemy still occupied their line.
In the presence of the enemy nothing of particular interest occurred until
the afternoon of the 6th, when we met the enemy near Sailor's Creek.
My regiment was formed as a support to the brigade, but in the advance
were posted on the left of the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers in
prolongation of their line. Arriving at the creek we
became exposed to the enemy's fire, but pushed on through the swamp,
which in many places was so deep as to destroy the ammunition of my
men. As soon as we were clear of the swamp I reformed my line and
sent out skirmishers to develop the enemy's position. When the brigade
advanced my left flank became exposed. I partly protected myself by
refusing the left wing. We pressed the enemy back too the woods in our
front, and when within a distance of about thirty yards received a charge
of the enemy, both in front and on my left, which caused my men,
after a time, to retire in some confusion. Every effort was made to rally
them without crossing the swamp. My U. S. flag was captured, but
quickly retaken. Capt. Gleason and Lieut. Perry were here killed
while gallantly urging their men on. At this point my regiment was
somewhat scattered, but joined the brigade in the new assault which
resulted so gloriously. At night we bivouacked on the field with the brigade.
For the first time under fire, I expected great difficulty with my new
troops, but I cannot speak too highly of their conduct. My officers,
without one exception, behaved splendidly.
My loss this day was, 2 officers killed and 4 wounded, 2 enlisted men
killed and 38 wounded. My total loss in officers and men during the
campaign was 58 killed and wounded. Several wounded men have since died.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. RHODES,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Second Rhode Island Volunteers.
Capt. T. G. COLT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 951-95 N. AND SE. VA., N. C., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. LVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.]
Bringing the